Mevagissey Beaches
Three Beaches Either Side of One of Cornwall's Most Complete Working Fishing Harbours
Mevagissey is a working fishing port first and a beach resort a distant second, and its beaches reflect that honestly rather than apologetically. This guide covers three of them, spread either side of the harbour: quiet, shingle Polstreath, tucked into the cliffs a quarter of a mile north and reached down around 200 steps; the small beach that appears within the historic harbour itself at low tide, right among the moored fishing boats; and the tidal, sandy cove of Portmellon a mile or so south, once the launch site of the town's own lifeboat.
None of the three is a big, purpose-built resort beach, and that is very much the point of visiting Mevagissey for its coastline rather than simply passing through. What the town offers instead is a genuine sense of place - a harbour with over two centuries of continuous fishing history, narrow streets built for a trade rather than tourism, and beaches that sit within that working landscape rather than apart from it.
Every page in this folder has a full visitor guide to its beach - parking, facilities, disabled access information, a precise map, nearby things to do and places to stay - researched and kept up to date.
At a Glance
- Mevagissey, South Cornwall, on the Austell Riviera
- 3 beaches: a quiet coast path cove, a working harbour beach, and a tidal sandy cove
- Mevagissey Harbour remains a genuine working fishing port, not a preserved relic
- Polstreath is reached only on foot, down around 200 steps
Symbols key
- Parking
- Toilets
- Refreshments
- Lifeguard in season
- Wheelchair accessible
- Dogs allowed
- Dogs restricted or not allowed
The Beaches of Mevagissey
Polstreath Beach
A quiet shingle cove down around 200 steps, a short walk north of the harbour.
- Seasonal dog restriction
Mevagissey Harbour Beach
A low-tide beach right in the heart of the working harbour, over two centuries in the making.
- Car park
- Toilets
- Refreshments
- Dogs allowed
Portmellon Beach
A tidal sandy cove a mile south, birthplace of the Mevagissey lifeboat in 1869.
- Car park
- Refreshments
- Seasonal dog restriction
Visitor Information
Parking
Mevagissey has several council-run car parks close to the harbour, including River Street, Valley Road and the larger Willow Car & Coach Park. Polstreath and Portmellon are both then reached on foot from the town. See each beach's own page for full details.
Facilities
Mevagissey's harbour has the full range of shops, pubs and cafés, and Portmellon has two more overlooking the beach itself. Polstreath has no facilities of any kind. None of the three has an RNLI lifeguard patrol. See each beach's own page for full details.
Disabled Access
The harbourside itself is level and easy to explore. Portmellon's coast road is fairly level but the beach itself is not step-free. Polstreath is reached only via around 200 steps and is not accessible by wheelchair. See each beach's own page for full details.
Places to Stay Around Mevagissey
Page last updated: 16 September 2026